Emergency Information

Current Fire Restrictions

10:43 AM - Jul 30

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners has rescinded our fire restrictions as of July 30, 2013 due to the advent of some much needed monsoonal moisture and the corresponding decrease in fire danger indices. It is not anticipated that any restrictions will need to be reinstated for the balance of the current fire season but should that change, notification will be made here and through press releases from the Larimer Co. Commissioner's Office. Even though fire restrictions have been lifted, forest fires still can start from untended campfires and the negligent use of fire or ignition sources in the back country so please remain vigilant. Any additional or follow up information on this can be found generally at http://www.larimer.org/.

3:47 PM - Jun 25

Effective June 25th, 20213, Larimer County has imposed FIRE RESTRICTIONS due to the dry, hot weather and the present circumstances of wildfire in Colorado. The following is a copy of the resolution adopted by the County Commissioners. This is not a total ban and therefore some enclosed / contained open fires are still allowed - but within the guidlines noted in the following. Also note the following from a press release issued by the Commissioner's Office:

Also in effect, a ban on use of fireworks and public fireworks displays are also restricted but for a specific portion of the unincorporated area:

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Larimer County adopted Ordinance No. 007-001 CONCERNING THE BAN OF OPEN FIRES, CONTAINED OPEN FIRES, AND FIREWORKS, and

WHEREAS, Ordinance 007-001 authorizes the Board to impose a restriction upon open fires, contained open fires, the use of fireworks and/or public firework displays in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County by adopting a resolution at any regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Board; and

WHEREAS, Ordinance 007-001 defines certain terms as follows:

1. Open fires shall mean: any open burning, including camp and cooking fires; or welding, or operating an acetylene or other torch with open flame. Open fires shall not include:

a. Fires in camp stoves or grills, fueled by bottled gas or pressurized liquid, and specifically designed for cooking or heating purposes.

b. Fires in permanently constructed stationary masonry or metal fireplaces specifically designed for the purpose of combustion.

d. Charcoal fired grills when used at a private residence and located on a non-combustible surface of at least ten feet in diameter.

e. Smoking within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. Smoking within an enclosed vehicle shall mean that the cigarette, cigar or other smoking instrument is at all times contained within the vehicle and is not allowed to leave the vehicle or protrude or be held outside the vehicle, including the window of the vehicle. Butts and stubs must be disposed of within a trash receptacle or within the vehicle.

2. Contained open fires shall mean: fires in permanently constructed stationary masonry or metal fireplaces specifically designed for the purpose of combustion; or operating or using any internal or external combustion engine without a spark arresting deviceproperly installed, maintained and in effective working order meeting either Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Standard 5100-1a or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practice J335(b) and J350(a). Contained open fires shall not include fireplaces or wood stoves located inside permanent structures.

3. Fireworks shall mean: any article, device, or substance prepared for the primary purpose of producing a visual or auditory sensation by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation.

4. Fireworks does not include:

a. Toy caps which do not contain more than twenty-five hundredths of a grain of explosive compound per cap;

c. Educational rockets and toy propellant device type engines used in such rockets when such rockets are of nonmetallic construction and utilize replaceable engines or model cartridges containing less than two ounces of propellant and when such engines or model cartridges are designed to be ignited by electrical means;

d. Fireworks which are used in testing or research by a licensed explosives laboratory.

5. Public fireworks displays shall mean: any display of fireworks conducted by a qualified pyrotechnic operator in compliance with article 78, section 7802 – fireworks – of the uniform fire code, as amended, and conducted only after the approval by the local fire authority, and compliance with any conditions imposed by the local fire authority.

WHEREAS, the Board finds that due to unusually dry conditions, and based on the recommendations of the Larimer County Sheriff and other competent evidence, the danger of wildfire, forest and grass fires is very high to extreme in Larimer County.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board finds that it is in the best interest of the people of Larimer County and to further their safety and welfare, that a prohibition of open fires (definition 1) in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County shall be imposed effective 12:00 p.m. June 25, 2013 through 11:59 p.m. September 3, 2013. Additionally, a prohibition of the use of fireworks (definitions 3, 4), and public fireworks displays (definition 5) in the unincorporated territory of Larimer County west of County Road 19 (or west of County Roads 21 or 23 where County Road 19 does not exist) and north of County Road 60 (or north of County Road 58 where County Road 60 does not exist) shall be imposed effective 12:00 p.m. June 25, 2013 through 11:59 p.m. September 3, 2013. This area is depicted on the map attached as Exhibit “A” to this resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Sheriff of Larimer County is authorized to exempt from such ban any open fire (1), use of fireworks (3), or public fireworks display (4) approved in advance by the Sheriff, after inspection of the containment structure, surrounding vegetation and potential fire fuel, and the immediate availability of fire suppression apparatus.

1:24 PM - Jun 12

As of June 12, 2013, there are no fire restrictions in Larimer County. That may change shortly because of the hot, dry and windy weather plus fuel moisture and energy release criteria. If such restrictions are enacted, a report to that effect will appear here at larimer.org/emergency